Alwaght- In addition to general strategic importance of Syria and because of its position in the Resistance Front and also its close ties and alliance with the Islamic Republic of Iran, the importance of Syria has particularly increased in the regional and global calculations. Therefore, it is necessary for Iran to perceive the situation. At the beginning days of the domestic crisis in Syria, Iran adopted a totally supportive policy towards the government of Bashar al-Assad to protect its own national security against newly created threats. Accordingly, Iran has become united with Russia and China to prevent the domination of the West in the West Asia region, and has adjusted its foreign policies in this regard. In light of these considerations, the most significant aspects of the strategic importance of Syria for the Islamic Republic of Iran could be explained within the framework of following four principle:
1. Syria: the Axis of Resistance against unbridled influence of the West on the West Asia
Syria has been of particular importance for regional and international powers, for the following reasons: 1. the strategic centrality of Syria in the West Asia; 2. the link between Syria and the Arab-Israel conflicts; 3. to feel alarmed by fundamentalist political Islam in the region and its growing trend.
After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the United States introduced itself as the International police and the Global hegemonic power, and called for expansion of the values of liberal democracy in the world. Over time; however, the slightly privileged position of the US in the international arena was seriously challenged. Washington came to the conclusion that transition from the Westphalian system is the solution.
In other words, to get into globalization stage, the US needs to leave the Westphalian system that has been the dominant discourse in the international system since 1648; the most important principle reflected in the Westphalian system is "the principle of sovereignty". Accordingly, the sovereignty of no country could be violated. Before September 11, the rule was one of the most important principles of international relations that was violated only through war and aggression. Nevertheless, the US and NATO attacks on Afghanistan (2001), Iraq (2003), Libya (2011) and currently the attempts to attack Syria suggest that Washington is thinking about the "trans-governance" and transition from the Westphalian system. In the meantime, considering the recent developments in the West Asia, Syria is of the utmost importance for the West. In one sense, Syria is located at the crossroads of geopolitical risks and borders with Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq, and it is at the intersection of major waterways and pipelines in the region, and it has extensive military cooperation with Russia. Russia has built an advanced military base in the port of Tarsus of Syria, along the Mediterranean Sea which acts as an important shelter in the West Asia. In general, for the West, Syria will act as a means to achieve long-term goals. However, what is of crucial importance is the fact that Iran acts in the framework of a stable agreement with Syria and Russia to prevent the fulfilment of the Western objectives in the region, especially in Syria.
2. To maintain a link with Hezbollah and the conflict line with the Israeli regime
Considering the historical background events, Hafez al-Assad never recognized the existence of the Israeli regime, and refused to negotiate with this regime. However, this approach, the belief in annihilation of the Israeli regime, promoted the relations between Damascus and the Islamic Republic of Iran. In the years after the 1979 revolution in Iran, opposition to the Israeli regime has become one of the fundamental foreign policies of Iran, which led to close relations between Tehran and Damascus. In addition to the opposition to the Israeli regime, another key factor that made Iran to strengthen its relations with Syria, was the stance and policies of Syria towards Hezbollah in Lebanon. In line with the principle of opposition to the Israeli regime, Hezbollah has always been backed by the Syrian government.
In principal, the main cause of rapprochement between Iran and Syria could be the same foreign policies against the Israeli regime, and the support for Hezbollah in Lebanon. The close ties are in line with ensuring the security of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Syria against the Israeli regime. In these anti-Zionist strategies, the Lebanese Hezbollah plays a key role in foreign policy of Iran and Syria. Supported by Iran and Syria, the Lebanese Hezbollah can strike a political and military blow to the Israeli regime. The relationship between Iran and Syria, is of utmost importance, mainly in terms of security, and maintaining the countries which comprise the main Shiite population of the region.
3. Syria: the hotspot of Arabic nationalism and Iranian-Islamic identity
Nation, nationalism and the national government are new phenomenon in the history of the Islamic world. Following the total domination of the European countries over the world, the Europeanization of the global system was put on the agenda of the West, and the Arab countries of the West Asia became part of the modern world. In this regard, the most important point for Iran was the disaccord between the Iranian national identity and the Arab nationalism dominating the West Asia.
However, the Syrian Alawites, who were mainly from the oppressed classes of society never managed to develop ties with their Sunni brothers in the framework of the Arab nationalism or other domineering movements, and always their religious solidarity has overcome their other feelings. This has also created a turning point in the relations between Iran and Syria. The Arabic nationalist ideology made the bilateral relations between the Arabs and Iran impossible. Nevertheless, as Hafez al-Assad took office in Syria, a country that has long been dominated by pan-Arabs, now governed only under secularism, and abandoned the Pan-Arabism policies of Baath party, which provided very strategic position for the Islamic Republic of Iran, so that Iran can increase its influence in Syria, and connect a line between the diluted Arabic nationalism in Syria and Iranian-Islamic identity. This has created a history of relations between the two countries full of different political, economic and military agreements which were faced with widespread opposition of the Arabs; and this situation makes Syria a security issue for the Islamic Republic of Iran, as the current situation in the West Asia, and the alliance of the Arab countries with the West has dramatically increased the influence of Western capitalism in the West Asia. Syria backed by Iran can continues to be the bulwark against liberal democracy of the West, which is a fundamental problem in Iran's foreign policy, as well as one of the pillars of Iran's security structure in the West Asia.
4. Ideological defense-invasion strategy
Ideological defense-invasion strategy is a strategy that displays the consistent position of Iran in Syrian intervention, and basically suggests the international community that Iran has a permanent presence in Syria, as many experts and analysts believed that the Iranian support for Assad would gradually decline and Iran would change its position at least for a position in the new government. On the contrary, Iran not only did not reduce its support for Syria, but surprised everybody with its full support for Syria, to the extent that changes in the regional equations has been in favor of the current government led by President Bashar al-Assad. Defense-invasion strategy is a strategy that according to which, one can simultaneously take a defensive or offensive strategy to both keep the Syrian government and protect its own security. This way, if Iran would refrain from adopting a passive defense against the onslaught hard and soft wars of the West. But, at the same time Iran adopts a defensive mode and turn Syria into a solid defensive barrier, according to the geopolitical and strategic position of Syria, and indirectly applies its aggressive policies to reduce the heavy defense costs.
